Hey. I'm back. The heat is on and its time to bring the chill...literally.
Devil May Cry is owned by CAPCOM
The Owl House is owned by Disney Animation.
Now, let's get the party started, folks!
...Mission 2: The Heat Is On...Or Not...
...Back On The Staircase...Heading Towards The Top...
Luz and King left the sub-basement floors of the tower and were traversing the circular staircase, eager to complete this adventure thus far. King was hopping up the steps while Luz was lagging behind a bit, due to her lugging her newest over-sized melee weapon, Rebellion and her two new sidearms, Ebony and Ivory, in her back pockets (until she can get a dual-holster for them) was weighing her down a bit since she wasn't used to carrying this much gear on her, but she'll get used to it.
*Huff* *Puff* "I know I'm getting my cardio in today, that's for sure. *Huff* *Puff*," Luz commented in her short breaths as she climb the staircase, holding onto the banister and not trying to fall over and down the steps they've just climbed.
However, the next thing Luz felt was a spine-chilling sensation work its way up her spine and up to her head, which makes her stop immediately in her tracks as they stopped halfway up to the second floor. This new feeling forces her to grab the banister of the staircase even harder, her hand shaking the dust and cobwebs off as if the banister would break off. Was it fear? No, she wasn't scared, but she did feel uncomfortable. A major chilling presence can be felt as she's feeling it...and not in a good way.
"Luz? Luz! Are you alright," King asked, shaking her leg to check to see if she was still able to proceed.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Let's go," Luz answered as she continued onward up the staircase with her side-kick until they made it to the top and remembered the hallway they came down, and eventually, exiting the door that lead to the roof. However...
"Is it getting colder or is it just me," King asked as he felt the temperature drop after taking barely ten steps outside.
"It's not you King. Someone or something out there is making the temperature plummeted and it's the middle of the day...and we're not high enough for the air to be cold enough to make us wear coats," Luz commented as she and King started heading to the roof much more cautiously to be prepared for anything. Sure enough, as the duo ascended the staircase to the roof, they were expecting to see the 'Shadow Cat' from before guarding the roof when they first arrived.
However, what they weren't expecting was a giant 3-Headed dog growling really really loud with big chunks of ice all over its body with visible cold breath exhaling from each head.
THE FROSTY GATEKEEPER:
CERBERUS
"Oh, cool! A Cerberus. I wonder why a Cerberus is doing here of all places?! But then again, this is the Boiling Isles...,," Luz asked as she was eyeing the mythical dog in front of her with stars in her eyes of having a nerd out moment as she slowly approached the creature, completely throwing caution into the wind to see another creature referenced in a book standing before her in real life.
"Probably protecting something of interest," King added.
"Now, Luz. It says we must not provoke the guardian or it will...-," King began, looking back at where Luz used to be. "...Uh, Luz...," King slowly asked, looking back at where Luz used to be, beside him before eyeing her in front him, approaching the Ice Guardian.
Apparently, King was too distracted by referencing the Ice Guardian in his book to notice his human friend was not beside him, behind cover.
"Oh, boy," King muttered in surprise and worry at where this was going as he ran out of cover to keep up with her as he knew this was bad idea that was only going to get worst.
That is until the the left head sees movement from its side and sees Luz approach. Her scent and her appearance was a dead giveaway, causing the left head to growl, making the other two heads follow its gaze and its instinct took over.
"Huh? A human? In the Boiling Isles?! This cannot stand," the left head of the Cerberus asked in surprise and hate as the other two heads growled or showed their jaws full of teeth to intimidate the newcomer.
"Oh, a talking Cerberus?! This trip has gotten whole a lot more awesome," Luz said with glee as King was starting to feel scared with the size difference between them and the guardian.
"Because within the legends and folklore back home, Cerberus, the three-headed dog is usually the guardian to the Underworld, ruled by Hades, as well as an attack dog used to thwart trespassers to his kingdom. But it doesn't add up on why there is a Cerberus that has the power over ice rather than fire," Luz asked since she's seen more hellhounds on fire than hellhound with ice.
"That's easy, Luz. There are different types of Cerberus within the Cerberus tribe within the Underworld. You got lucky that you found a full grown adult Cerberus that can use just ONLY ice," King commented, making her look at him in surprise.
"Lucky? And 'just' only ice," Luz repeated as she looked back at him with surprise. "There are other Cerberus' with different elements?! King, you and me are talking about this later. First, let's deal with him," Luz said, now interested in the new information that King said. But the Cerberus in front of them was a different story...
"Leave now, mortal! The likes of you are forbidden in this land. You are powerless and are not worthy to set foot here," The center-head said in annoyance, not wanting to deal with this human anymore.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean any disrespect, Mr. Cerberus. But seriously, if you were MY dog and I entered you into a dog show, here in the Boiling Isles, I betcha you would win first prize. Hands down," Luz said, trying to sound peaceful. "Behind King here, of course," Luz added with mocking smirk as she eyed her 'plus one' behind her, who was scared at his oversized cousin in front of him.
"Really, Luz," King said with a enthusiasm in voice. The thought of him beating a Cerberus in a dog show would be laughable, making him one step closer to being King of all Demons. Step one: Have a dog show competition to show off King's good qualities and create a fanbase for growing popularity for everyone to see...but back to the matter at hand...
"WAIT!? WHY DID JUST I SAY THAT," Luz asked herself in her head as if she was begging for a fight with this thing. Even though, she didn't. "I gotta remember to think before I speak next time."
"You, a mere human, to make a mockery of me," the center asked in fury as it took a deep breath and breathe a stream of ice that forced Luz to jump out of the way with King in tow, creating a long vertical trail of ice on the ground as if it was slide for skating.
"Easy there, Fido. Hey, how about I take you out for a walk or something. FYI, I'm an animal lover," Luz says as she smacks her lips and whistles a little while gesturing to the dog to come follow her like a dog would do around its master to further mock the beast as if it was a guard dog with nothing better to do. "Come on, boy. Come here, pup!"
"OKAY, WHAT AM I DOING," Luz shouted in her head again as she wanted to cover her mouth, but couldn't because she felt like she was have the time of her life fighting this creature.
"You'll regret this, you worm," the center said in anger as all three heads got mad and growled in the air for a roar as the heads got low on its front legs ready to pounce onto Luz.
"Okay, then. Showtime," Luz says as she felt an adrenaline rush got through her lungs as her heart started to beat faster and got her excited for a fight.
BOSS FIGHT
Luz charged at the 3-Headed Dog, Rebellion in hand as the creature dipped it heads low, ready to pounce at Luz. When Luz came in close, it tried to snap at her with its jaws, but the center head missed and Luz tried to slicing around its muzzle and tried to stab its right paw, but all it did was make the "hellhound" laugh at her efforts of attacking him.
"You think you can scratch this armored ice skin, human? Pathetic," The right head laugh as Luz saw the places she struck didn't even leave barely any scratch marks.
"Uh, if your talking about all that ice covering your faces and body, then maybe your right. That is...if I can knock all that ice off of you," she commented in a truthful tone before it it turned into a devious smile, now knowing what to do.
"To be honest with myself, I have NEVER used a gun before...and mother prayed unto me and made me promise that I would NEVER have to use a gun in a life or death situation, even for self-defense, and of course to NEVER to take a life, innocent or otherwise, but now, I guess today I have to break that promise," Luz says her in mind as she takes out Ebony and Ivory. She looks at the handguns and just takes a deep breath of a sigh.
"Sorry, ma," she mutters as with look of confidence on her face as she took aim at the center head and pulled both triggers. Luz didn't know it, but when she put her fingers on the triggers, some of her mana were pulled from her body into the handguns for ammo. And then...
"POW!" "POW!" "POW!" "POW!" "POW!" "POW!" "POW!" "POW!" "POW!" "POW!" "POW!" "POW!" "POW!" "POW!" "POW!" "POW!" "POW!" "POW!"
Luz didn't care if some of her shots were missing, but she wanted to let this creature know, she wasn't going to be an easy target for this thing to play with.
Sure enough, she kept firing until the ice started to crack and fall off the right head of the Cerberus, effectively leaving the head exposed with the ice to protect it.
"Gotcha now, Fido," Luz said as she quick dashed forward as the all three heads of the Ice Guardian started breathing in and exhaling a stream of ice into the air, creating falling stalactites made of ice as if they were in a cave experiencing a earthquake.
"Oh, boy," she mutters as she looks up and then dodges out of the way...albeit slowly as if everything around her was a blur.
"Whoa. How did I do that," she mutters in shock as she looked at the last place she was standing, where the icy stalactite would've punctured her before crushing her into a bloody stain on the ground.
"Just roll with it Luz...and kill that thing," King said as he held onto Luz for dear life as she kept dodging the icy debris to get in close and starting slicing the Cerberus's right head, leaving multiple cut marks around its nose, face, and eyes.
"Annoying human," the right Cerberus head says in defiant anger.
"Annoying bitch," Luz says back as King was just stunned at that comeback.
"Whoa! You kiss your mother with that mouth," King asked in complete shock at Luz's choice of words.
Luz's response to King's question however was a harden glare and a subtle growl including the noticeable red, demonic (not narrow) eyes as Luz's anger was slowly growing due to her ever-so-growing connection with Sparda, forcing King to let out a small "Eep" and go low behind Luz's leg.
"Nevermind," King added as Luz got back to work handling this hound as Cerberus charged again for a bite, but Luz dodges to the side and slices the right head again across its cheek, forcing a howl of pain from the head as she quickly jumped back for a quick plan.
"I gotta cut this just right," Luz commented as she eyed a specific spot on the right head's neck.
When the Cerberus comes at Luz again for a bite, Luz jumps up high and the bite comes up short and leaves the Cerberus dazed after putting their jaws into the ground. With the Cerberus head distracted, Luz descends on the creature and slices the right head of the Cerberus right off its neck. The sudden the decapitated dog head rolls forward while the other Cerberus heads jump back in fear and pain at the loss of its head.
The head growls one last time as Luz admires her handiwork with smile. Eventually the head turns into ice before exploding into red demonic blood before disappearing into icy red particles. If Luz was paying attention, some of that blood went behind her and straight into Rebellion.
"You're gonna regret that," the left head of the Cerberus said as it tried ignoring the pain coursing through its body after recently losing its head to this extraordinary human as it got some distance away from Luz and was thinking of a new strategy to put in play.
"Talking to you throughout this fight so far is regretful," Luz commented back.
"SERIOUSLY?! WHY DO I KEEP DOING THAT," she frantically shouted in her head, immediately distracting herself from the present threat in front.
Before she knew it, the center Cerberus head took a deep breath and blew a stream of ice onto the ground and aimed the stream straight onto Luz, effectively freezing her solid while the rushing speed of the cold wind blew King away from his partner
"Well, that was cold, huh Luz," King said as he dusted the snow off of his fur and skull mask.
"Luz?...LUZ," King said as he saw Luz frozen in a ice statue outline of herself holding Rebellion in a blocking pose.
"Heh. Got her," the left head said in a triumphant tone.
That is until the ice sculpture started to rock back and forth until it broke apart and Luz came out, standing above a pile of ice, shivering.
"W-W-W-W-Wh-hhhoa. Talk about the l-l-l-l-l-li-literal definition of "ch-ch-ch-ill out," Luz commented as she started walking forward, stomping over the ice while dusting her clothes off from the frost that covered her.
"Impossible," the center head shouted at the display of persistence of this human.
"What's the matter, Fido. All bark and no bite? Now looks who's pathetic," Luz said with a grin as expecting more than being turned in a simple ice scupture.
"THIS IS NOT ME," she said in her head as she felt like she was embarrassing herself talking like she had no care in the world about the dangers around her.
"I'm still capable of stopping you," the left head said in confidence.
"Then come at me, Fido. I ain't got all day. I've got places to go, spells to learn, and new spells to tryout," Luz commented as she listed everything she wanted to do so far today.
The next thing Luz knew, the creature did a howl into the air and the ice that was scattered around the ground (that has surprisingly not melted yet) went back to the remaining Cerberus heads to reinforce its defenses.
"Seriously," Luz commented with a frown as she pulled out Ebony and Ivory again and started firing as much as she could at the Cerberus to knock off all that ice armor again until it was bare and taking damage with little droplets of blood coming out of its heads.
"Is that all you got, human," the two heads said at the same time. The Cerberus was taking damage, but not enough at once.
"Nope," Luz said as she took a moment to think until she was stunned for a brief moment. Luz didn't why, but something in the back of her head told her to take aim, press and hold the gun triggers, count to 10 and then fire.
"But how about a Charged Shot from my pistols," she asked the 2-headed K-9 as her pistols started to slowly glow purple until they were completely purple, stunning the Cerberus at what the human in front of it was going to do. All was answered as Luz aimed at the left head and fired the charged pistol shots at the left head. On contact, the bullets went straight through the forehead of the left head and upon exiting its cranium through the other side of its head, where brain would be, the head exploded, leaving a vacant space on the neck just like the right head, leaving the center head the sole survivor of the fight, shocking everyone.
The after effects of that last shot forces the center Cerberus head to let out an agonizing cry before going to the ground in a slumped position of exhaustion as Luz starts walking towards the creature with Rebellion over her shoulder with a smirk.
BOSS DEFEATED
"HOLY CRAP! That actually worked," Luz shouted in surprise and amazement at what she did.
"I have no words to describe what I saw, other than, we are SO documenting this fight because this book DEFINITELY needs some updating," King said with enthusiasm as he began writing some notes in the blank pages of his book as he followed Luz towards her defeated opponent.
"You've been a bad boy, Mr. Cerberus! I think a nice trip to the vet followed by a nice stay at the demonic pound will do you some good," Luz said trying to make a joke.
"SERIOUSLY," Luz said in her head as she mentally facepalmed herself in shame at the attempted mocking comment.
The Cerberus tries to get its remaining head back up for another round, but its too weak to lift a paw and yields back in pain before going to the ground as Luz approached and got into striking distance with Rebellion at the ready, if necessary, as she eyed the downed demon with little to no care as King quickly hid behind her leg, expecting one last attempt of an attack from the Cerberus.
"You're not human, are you," the center head (and only living head left on the Cerberus) asked Luz as he put his chin to the dirt to ease the pain as it faces Luz with words rather than might to better understand what makes her so strong.
"Not anymore, apparently," Luz answered as she did a quick review of what she just did as she looked to the ground for quick second.
"Did THAT actually just happened! I fought a Cerberus and won! How is that possible," she mentally asked herself as she sheaths Rebellion in its holster, knowing the Cerberus is no longer at threat.
"Regardless, you have proved your strength," it said as Luz could only smile at being recognized by her strength. "I acknowledge your ability. Take my soul and go forth," the Ice Guardian said as it slowly glowed snow white to the point that Luz had to shield her eyes. When the light died down, she saw a crystal-shaped piece of ice floating in the air. She held out her hand to catch it (should it fall) and surprisingly, it came to her, hovering slowly over to Luz's hand and once it makes contact with Luz's palm, the crystal glowed again and turned into a weapon.
This was the Luz's first and newest Devil Arm to her arsenal, "The Cerberus"
LUZ HAS ACQUIRED
CERBERUS
"King, what is this," Luz asked as she held the weapon up in confusion and shock. Was this weapon hers!?
King began searching the "Index" of the book and found something interesting...
"Uh...apparently, there is also a "Weapons Section" in this book for the creatures that have been defeated and turned into signature weapons held by a Sparda," King explained as Luz had a confused look on her face. "Luz, by defeating the Cerberus, it gave you its power in the form of a weapon called a Devil Arm. And course, this one is called Cerberus, named after the 3-Headed Ice Guardian you just defeated," King commented as he read the text that was underneath a good 3-D, scaled down version of the weapon displayed, capturing its likeness, but excluding the icy mist it had for better quality to readers.
"The Devil Arm, "Cerberus" is a triple nunchaku. In its ethereal form like other Devil Arms, it is a ball of blue light. However, in its material form, it manifests as three rods connected to a ring by chains, effectively making a three-part nunchaku. The ring and chains are black, while the rods are icy blue with three pick-like points at the end of each rod."
"When using this weapon, its perfect for quick combo builders and fast combo attacks on one opponent at a time since its size and range is limited to what's in front of you...and perfect for slowing creatures down when they get hit with enough of its ice. It's also perfect for blocks and counterattacks against fast and heavy enemies, but doesn't do too well against aerial opponents and projectiles, so close the gap between your enemies fast and Cerberus will sic' your attacks on your opponents for you.
"Cool. Pun intended," Luz says with a smile as she began swinging and flinging the nunchaku around as if it was her newest plaything.
"Weird. I don't have any experience with num-chuks," Luz mutters with surprise as she continues swinging, expecting herself to mess up and whack herself up in the head, but nope, she kept going. Performing Combo A, Swing, Combo B, Revolver, and ending it all with Crystal with the spiky ice shards impaling into a nearby tree, shocking both adventures. "But I guess I'm a quick learner...," she says with shock as she looks at her newest weapon in hand.
"Come on! Let's head back to Eda. You know, she'll want one of us to tell the story of what happened here...if she isn't already sleeping," Luz said with an eye roll.
"I know," King commented with annoyed look as he eyed the sunken tower with a glare.
"You okay, King," Luz asked her traveling partner.
"Somethings not right, Luz. Two legendary, powerful swords that are supposed to be at the base of the tower to keep demons from the Underworld out are missing somewhere in the Boiling Isles and whoever took them left the last one for someone else to pick up? It doesn't make any sense," King explained as he started thinking to himself as they continued walking.
"Is that the detective in you talking, King," Luz asked with an interested tone.
"I'm serious, Luz. Why leave the last sword for someone else? Why not take all three," King asked the obvious questions as it kept getting more confusing as he thought about it.
"Maybe somebody took the other swords and hid them around the Boiling Isles as part of a treasure hunt OR have them somewhere secretly locked away for experimentation later," Luz debated as they continued up the hill as the late afternoon sun started to get brighter.
"...Maybe...or there could be something else in play here," King added in his mind as he looked at the top of the sunken temple one last time before facing back forward and they headed back to the Owl House.
...Mission 2: COMPLETED...
...But Later...That Evening...
Barely an hour or so after Luz and King left the sunken tower of Temen-ni-gru, all was peaceful around in the abandoned site. Until...
A squad of soldiers wearing light gray mask with large eye holes similar to the masks worn by plague doctors, physicians who treated victims of the Bubonic Plague in certain European countries (or like a bird nose/beak) came over the rocky ridge in various ways from cloaking to hovering to using magic to move debris out of their way. Over their masks, he has a white cowl with a pointed hood and a golden triangle at the center. Their outfits consists of a dark gray long-sleeved shirt with brown gloves & a brown belt with a gold buckle, followed by black harem pants and pointed brown boots.
Everyone looked the same that it was kind of hard to tell who was a guy and who was girl. "Go! Go! Go," someone shouted as everyone ran in and formed up in lines and prepared for a briefing.
Pretty soon, a tall, slender woman with ivory skin, pointy ears, dark teal lips, long, indigo hair, and a big forehead came to an elevated hill so everyone could see her. She has dark gray claw-like nails and an inverted kite-shaped sky blue gem on her sternum. She wears a long-sleeved two-tone dark gray dress and dark gray laced boots.
This was Lilith Clawthorne, the leader of the Emperor's Covenant...underneath Emperor Belos himself, of course.
"Alright, everyone! The Emperor has tasked us with an important mission; a massive spike in energy erupted from this sunken tower of origin. We must find out what made that energy surge," the woman announced as she eyed a specific member of the group.
"Steve," the woman pointed a the coven member, who immediately saluted at being put on the spot since he was Lilith's assistant.
"You lead the group into the sunken tower and report back to me within the hour. If you find anything of value, take it and bring back to me. Treasure is optional, but the books are the more important objectives. If you find any creatures or trespassers in there, eliminate them. Understood? This mission is airtight secret, so no one outside the Emperor's Covenant needs to know about this...and same goes to the rest of you. Is that clear," the woman ordered and asked.
"Yes, Ms. Lilith," he answered, in which he answered for everyone around him as he dropped his salute and gave orders to the other members that half of them were going inside the sunken tower while stayed with Lilith to deal with any trespassers that came across this site.
"Now, its time to prepare...for the end of the world as we know it," Lilith murmured to herself as the squad headed inside as her face sported a frown.
I know! I know! Small chapter, I didn't have enough material when I split the chapters. But don't worry, this won't happen too often. I promise.
Also, alternate episode ahead.